:)

MY DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS-

This week's been a wild one.  The biggest news of all is that Wednesday, we have transfers. Apparently the lord has bigger and better plans for me because I'm being transferred ))))): I want to cry for hours because I have loved every second of this area and I have truly come to love all these people like my own family.  Cartagena will always hold a really special place in my heart, especially being the place that I started my mission.  My new area is San Fernando, which happens to be about 11 hours away from here by bus.  I'm definitely gonna have a fun day traveling down there :::::::))  My new companion is Hermana Villamar ((yes, another native)) and it's great because I already know her and love her!!!!!  She was in my district the first transfer and she is just the cutest missionary ever.  She's so sweet and she has this powerful rock solid testimony.  Every time she opens her mouth or bears her testimony the spirit is evident in her words.  I always admired that about her and now I get to work with her!!!!  Pretty sure she knows perfect English, like Hermana Vigo, but I'm going to try this transfer only speaking Spanish.  It'll be hard at times to express myself, but I think I'll grow a lot more in the language.

So, this weekend was my last one in Cartagena and we've had cita after cita with all the people I know so that I can goodbye to them.  I'm so sad to be leaving these people that I love so much.  Anais came up to me on Sunday and hugged me and cried and cried.  It was a really tender moment for me.  She bought these charm bracelets for me, Hermana Vigo, and her and they're so cute.  She added a little note that explained all the charms.  She wrote, "the first charm is a crown because you helped me remember my true identity, a daughter of a king.  The second is a smiley face because you brought happiness back into my life.  Then the letters VAS ((Vigo, Anais, Spangler)) because I feel safe between you guys.  And last, a heart because I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done for me." ISN’T THAT SO SWEET?  It was one of the sweetest moments of my life to read the note and see the charms.  Anais is so amazing and truly just glows. I love that girl with all my heart.   We had our last lesson with her on Sunday night and we talked a little bit about missionary work.  It went super well, she's such an example to everyone around her already.  At the end of the lesson, she told us that every single lesson we've taught since the moment I got here until this lesson went in line perfectly with her patriarchal blessing. Every single thing. For those that don't know what a patriarchal blessing is, it's a special blessing that members of the church can receive. It's like your own personal scripture from Heavenly Father and it's personalized for every person. It gives advice and blessings and warnings and works according to our obedience and faith.  Anais said that before this lesson she was praying and just felt like we were going to teach about missionary work-and that's what we taught. Isn't that amazing?? God knows us SO perfectly and SO personally. I don't think I will every be able to comprehend how much he knows us or loves us but I'm starting to understand a little more being on the mission.  We saw Leo on Sunday too and gave a quick lesson more to give him a boost of animo.  Good news, everything with his papers and legal things worked out :-) thanks to much fasting and prayer.  Heavenly Father is marvelous isn't he? We talked about enjoying the little things in life and not taking anything for granted. Life goes so quick guys. Live every moment to the fullest.  Anyways, after the lesson, Leo said' "how do you guys decide what to teach?"  We told him that we have weekly planning and pray specifically for every person and follow the spirit to decide what to teach. He told us that our lesson was exactly what he had been praying to be taught.  He said, "I've been praying that someone would tell me something like this."  There ya go.  Once again, I can TESTIFY that God loves us and knows us.  He truly is our father.  He's aware of everything we're going through.  If you don't believe me, ask him yourself.  He's there, just waiting for you to talk to him.

So as for Moises, things are rough with his work and everyone so we didn't meet with him all week :/ we were calling him and he never picked up so we decided to just give him some space for a few days and then try again.  A member in our ward ((who is WONDERFUL)) told us that he felt like calling Moises on Friday and that he answered!!!  He said he had left his phone in a restaurant and then couldn't call us back because he doesn't have storage.  So we called him and had a lesson yesterday(FINALLY) First off, he came to church and it was stake conference so it went really good.  The stake president spoke and he is amazing.  He's such a great speaker and so kind and has so much love for the stake and for the gospel.  He's definitely one of my favorite people ((okay yes I know I have a million favorite people sorry can't help it)).  We taught Moises the law of chastity and it went really well too.  I'm sad because I'm leaving before he gets baptized but I'm so proud of him and the choices he's making.

Merci is also progressing a lot and working towards her baptism date of June 10th.  The good news is that her daughter wants to get baptized with her!!! How exciting!!!!!  They are both preparing for that day and it's going great.  Once again, a little sad that I'm missing the baptism but all I really care about is that it'll happen one day in the future and that they'll be able to receive all the blessings that comes from being a member of this church.

As for a quick update on the language, I can finally see some REAL improvement.  Yes it's a little bit difficult at times but I'm able to speak so much more and that's a real miracle. Unfortunately, Heavenly Father is good at thinking of ways to help us grow and is sending me to a place with different Spanish.  Apparently the Spanish there is a little bit harder to understand so I'm going to have to start this whole Spanish thing over again. Oh well, that's the mission life :)) send lots of prayers okay!!!!!!

Well, I love you ALL more than words can describe!!  You guys are my favorite people ever and I'm grateful for your constant support.  I'm loving every second of this mission and my relationship with my savior is growing more and more every day.  That's one thing I will forever be grateful for.

Until next week!!!!

Besitos,

Hermana Spangler

**Here is a photo with Moises and sweet Paloma 

**Anais-my main gal

**Here’s us showing off our cute charm bracelets ((don’t know why it looks like we have spray tans))